Academic Background
B.A. Wellesley College-Music Major, 1982
M.D. Dartmouth Medical School, 1987
Post Doctoral Training
Intern in Psychiatry, Tufts-New England Medical Center, Boston, 1987-1988
Adult Psychiatry Residency, New England Medical Center, Boston, 1988-1990
Chief Resident, Adult Psychiatry Outpatient Department, New England Medical Center, Boston, 1990-1991
Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Fellowship, Emma Pendleton, Bradley Hospital, Brown University, East Providence, Rhode Island, 1991-1993
Research Fellowship, Child Psychiatry Branch, National Institute of Mental Health, Bethesda, Maryland, 1993-1995
Current Appointments:
2008-present Robert M. and Shirley S. Siff Chair in Autism, UMASS Medical School, Worcester, MA
2008-present Professor of Psychiatry, UMASS Medical School, Worcester, MA
2008-present Professor of Pediatrics, UMASS Medical School, Worcester, MA
2008-present Vice Chair and Director, Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, UMASS Medical School, Worcester, MA
2008-present Co-Director, Child and Adolescent Neurodevelopment Initiative (CANDI), UMASS Medical School, Worcester, MA
Professional Service:
2003-present | Professional Advisory Council for the Child and Adolescent Bipolar Foundation Field Editor, Harvard Review of Psychiatry |
2005-2008 | Work Group on Research, American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry |
2005-present | Scientific Advisory Board for Step-Up for Kids |
2005-present | Data Safety Monitoring Board for Stanley Early Onset Bipolar Disorder Treatment Study at University of Cincinnati:Â PI Robert Kowatch |
2006-present | Associate Editor of Psychotic Disorders: Journal of Child and Adolescent Psychopharmacology |
2006-2007 | Committee on Integrated Research Training Programs in Child Psychiatry, American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. |
2006-present | Data Safety Monitoring Board for All Clinical Trials in Child and Adolescent and Adult Psychiatry at Zucker Hillside Hospital, New York. |
2006-present | Steering Committee of the Autism Consortium in Boston |
2006-present | Psychopharmacology Experts Workgroup, Department of Mental Health, Massachusetts |
2007 -2008 | Selection Committee for the EOP and CAP travel awards given by the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry |
2007-2009 | History Committee, American College of Neuropsychopharmacology |
2007-present | Massachusetts Department of Mental Health Advisory Committee on Psychoactive Medication for Children and Adolescents |
2007 | National Institute of Mental Health Review Committee ZMH 1 ERB-B 03 R- March 20th 2007 |
2009-present | Department of Mental Health-Mental Health Parity Advisory Group |
2009 | National Institutes of Health Review Committee-NPAS- Ad Hoc Reviewer- June 2009 |
2009 | Work group Member-National Institute of Mental Health. Pediatric Bipolar Disorder Classification Meeting |
2009 | National Institute of Mental Health BSC-Ad hoc Reviewer June 2009 |
2009 | Autism Spectrum Clinical Trials Network Reviewer |
2009-2015 | Member, Neural Basis of Psychopathology, Addictions and Sleep disorders Study Section, Center for Scientific Review, National Institutes of Health |
2009-2011 | Credentials Committee, American College of Neuropsychopharmacology |
2009 | Advisory Committee for Girls in Action, Girls Inc. in Worcester |
Honors/Awards
2002 | National Alliance For The Mentally Ill- Annual Exemplary Psychiatrist Award |
2003 | Massachusetts Psychiatric Society-Outstanding Psychiatrist Award for Research |
2006 | Distinguished Fellow of the American Psychiatric Association |
2006 | New England Educational Institute’s Outstanding Educator Award for Mental Health Education |
2007 | Step up for Kids, Inc. Leadership Award |
2009 | Best Doctors in America |
Research Interests
Dr. Frazier directs a broad research program that addresses a variety of scientific problems relevant to advancing the understanding, diagnosis and treatment of individuals with neurodevelopmental disorders such as early onset bipolar disorder (BPD), schizophrenia and autism. The Child and Adolescent Neurodevelopment Initiative (CANDI) team studies all three diagnostic groups since there is often overlap in the clinical symptoms, genetics, and the neuroimaging findings of these disorders and in the clinical interventions used to treat them. Research with each diagnostic group of children informs the work done with the other diagnostic groups. For example, children with autism can have mood dysregulation when asked to shift activities and a significant subset can suffer from a comorbid bipolar disorder or depressive disorder.Children with schizophrenia can also look like they have bipolar disorder with psychotic features and figuring out the diagnostic boundaries can be challenging. By studying all three groups of children, Dr. Frazier hopes to find biomarkers that might be specific to each diagnosis. In addition, she hopes to find biomarkers that may be less specific to diagnosis but more pertinent to disorders of neurodevelopment in general. The overarching goal is for Dr. Frazier's research efforts to lead to improved care of children and families affected by these disorders.
CANDI is involved in a variety of research pursuits including genetic studies, intervention studies and neuroimaging efforts. Dr. Frazier collaborates with a number of investigators both locally and nationally in order to tackle difficult questions. The neuroimaging studies use technologies such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to investigate the development of brain structure and function. Using these techniques Dr. Frazier's team hopes to characterize normal development and advance the understanding of issues surrounding mental illness and atypical development and their interventions.